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Electrical

Tiny
JIMB1957
  • MEMBER
  • 1966 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • V8
  • RWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
With a fully charged battery I get no headlights or horn. I can see power at radio because time appears in display. When the key is turned over the display in radio goes away. The car has been sitting for almost two years. I pulled the starter and had it tested. I was told it was bad. I installed a new starter. Still no joy.
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2016 AT 12:06 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check wires in picture to see if the power is coming through any of them with the key on. Then check behind the ignition switch and see if the harness is burnt up as they did this. I think I still have the connector to ignition switch, but it has been so long I forgot. If that is the problem you can have it. The small red/blue stripe wire should go to the small post nearest the battery on the starter relay.
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2016 AT 3:48 PM
Tiny
JIMB1957
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay, I will take a look at that. I have a red wire on the side of the solenoid that goes down to the starter.
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2016 AT 8:40 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
There should be one wire that goes to starter from relay it should be like a battery cable size, but check the smaller wires to see if you are getting power from them then to ignition switch.
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Monday, May 23rd, 2016 AT 7:20 AM
Tiny
JIMB1957
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I checked for power at the battery had 12.10 volts then checked at the solenoid battery side the same 12.10 volts. Then the S terminal was 6.04 volts. The Red wire coming off the battery side of solenoid has 12.10 volts. The Junction Block has 12.10 volts on each terminal. I originally had the solenoid wired like the attached illustration from the Ford Shop Manual I got with the car. Without the key in the ignition the headlights can be turned on and the horn honked. Once you put the key in and attempt a start and let the key spring back the lights nor horn work. If you turn the key off the lights and horn come back. I am having a problem adding the photo from the Ford Shop Manual.
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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
JIMB1957
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  • 7 POSTS
Here is the photo of the page from my Ford Shop Manual. You can see the solenoid in the upper center has multiple wires coming off each side of the solenoid.
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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 AT 12:01 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Where the two arrows point put a screwdriver shaft there and the car should turn over. I think you have a bad ignition switch or the wiring is all burnt up like I said in a previous reply behind
the ignition switch. I still have the repair harness for the switch I think in toolbox if it s' bad you can have it. By the way your battery should be a t 12.4 volts minimum so it's either needing a charge of maybe has a bad cell. Or try using a jump while trying to start. Make sure cable ends are clean. Image will come in next email
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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
JIMB1957
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Did not get a crack by jumping the solenoid. Tomorrow I am planning on pulling the dash panels around the ignition and get a look at the wire harness.
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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 AT 3:52 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
You don't need to pull the dash panels just look under the dash at back of switch it it doesn't have round pins on switch I don't have the correct one. So you jumped solenoid and car did not start or turn over? If it' didn't then the solenoid is bad or battery weak/cable etc. When you do that it bypasses everything but battery
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Saturday, May 28th, 2016 AT 4:45 PM

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